External Contacts backup question

[vic102482]

On a system state backup of an exchange server, all of the AD data is backed up etc.etc.

Now lets say there is some sort of disaster, and I am doing system state backups on my exchange server. Will the contacts be backed up in a mailENABLED state? So that when I restore said system state data, people will be able to pick and choose out of the GAL whom to email.


I just do a database backup of both of the huge email files, Im just kinda wondering how system state backups work with an exchange server.

Thanks.

 

[vic102482]

Edit,

I also wanted to point out that veritas backupexec backsup the messaging databases already, this is only about AD data and system state.

 

[tencevaines]

Is your Exchange server also an AD domain controller? Do you have other Domain Controllers in this site?

All the Contact (mail enabled or not) are kept in Active Directory. If you have a second Domain controller, or if your exchange server is not a domain controller itself (which I'd expect it likely isn't, or useually it isn't, but could be ) then the contacts will remain as they were since they are AD objects not really exchange objects.

If your exchange server is also your only domain controller then a full system restore will restore the contacts to their previous state along with the rest of AD.

Backup Exec also has a disater recovery feature, that I'm not familiar with at this time, you may want to look into this feature as well. (depending on what version of BackupExec you use)

 

[vic102482]

Yes, the email server is also a domain controller. This is a very small organization.

So now since it is an AD controller, would the contacts remain mail enabled if I did a system state on the email server that is also a domain controller?

I just want to know if people can send the contacts email encase I have to do a system state restore encasue of email problems.

 

[tencevaines]

Yes it will, all the AD objects will be restored just as they were.